First rant of the year

dyl10

As a budgeting student, for the last two years I've brought my own cup and tea bags in to college with me every day.
Most places as some people will know, charge for hot water. Often this is waved by the till attendant, but the standard charge otherwise is usually varies from 15 - 40 cent around campus.

So there I am, in the SU shop under the library yesterday and low and behold a price list has been put up stating that hot water is now €1!
Seriously, what the ****?
Tea/coffee is €1.25 and they price the hot water at €1.
Fine, if they said hot water + sugar + milk + cup is €1, that would still be outrages, but a little more understandable. However, €1 for hot water with or without your own cup, bull****.

I don't know or otherwise care what involvement the SU has with the SU shop, but I've given the SU €158(?) for 4 years and I'd be happy for them to have it, if they provided these facilities. I don't give a toss about the thousands of euro you waste on class reps weekend every year, if you spent my €158(?) on a bunch of kettles and scattered them around campus, I'd be delighted.

/Rant over

Tea-a-Maria

I switched over to the arts café,it's still 50 cent there.

I always took cup+milk+hot water when I was in the library shop.Even then,I remember one of the people at the till saying it was a bit silly to charge for hot water.To jack the price by that much is ridiculous.:mad:

oldyouth

Thermos Flask

El Siglo

Malignant bastards! €1 for a cup of hot water?

TimeToShine

The nerve of them!

Students who bring their own teabags are lost potential revenue, as they won't buy tea or coffee, so they price hot water at nearly the same price.

It's ridiculous, but they know full well that it is. It doesn't reflect what they think the cost of a hot water service is but rather the amount of money they think they'll lose from tea and coffee sales.

Tea-a-Maria

Thing is,I've been in the library shop a lot over the past 2 years( I love my Barry's:D) and I have never seen anyone else ask for hot water in that time.That said,there has always been a big queue for the tea and coffee machines.

Did so many people use only hot water that the SU shops felt justified in doubling the price?It'd be interesting to see how much potential revenue they lost last year.I think the accounts are public,but I stand to be corrected on that.

Tea-a-Maria

Tea-a-Maria wrote: »

Thing is,I've been in the library shop a lot over the past 2 years( I love my Barry's:D) and I have never seen anyone else ask for hot water in that time.That said,there has always been a big queue for the tea and coffee machines.

Did so many people use only hot water that the SU shops felt justified in doubling the price?It'd be interesting to see how much potential revenue they lost last year.I think the accounts are public,but I stand to be corrected on that.

I'd say they are. Go for it.

Although there only has to be a potential for lost revenue before people go ahead and bump up charges.

ya-ba-da-ba-doo

There's a kettle in the science building across from the program office if i remember correctly..

It's more than likely for staff use but you could have a go at it till you get caught!

Red Alert

Lidl kettle + find a socket + find a water fountain = problem solved.

OrionsBelt

Red Alert wrote: »

Lidl kettle + find a socket + find a water fountain = problem solved.

damn was about to post the same thing when i read the first post. good idea

JonB

Red Alert wrote: »

Lidl kettle + find a socket + find a water fountain = problem solved.

Exactly its the way to do it. Seen a few do it in the labs in Comp Sci. Your sorted with a kettle cup of tea and some pot noodle.

snooleen

Charging for hot water is ridiculous, the poster above was right about the arts cafe, it's cheaper in there (I'm sure). Probably as it's pretty expensive so they'd make enough money on whatever they sell anyway

+1 for a few kettles. My dad said to me the other day 'Do they not have a microwave so you could bring soup or leftover stir fry etc etc. in and just heat it up for a sec?' to which I surprisingly answered quite logically (if I may say so myself :P) 'If they had one microwave in the entire campus, they'd have to get about 2000 microwaves cause everyone would want in on the action'.

Microwaves + kettles would be great Any SU members or any of those sorts floating around for input? I'd like to hear what they have to say

dyl10

As it happens, I found out yesterday that in work spaces on UCD campus there is supposed to be no food/drink making facilities (that includes leturers offies and study areas). I'm a post grad and my department were made remove all microwaves and kettles from every room, with the exception of a meeting room.
Anyone with these facilities in their rooms has them 'secretly'.

You should probably ammend your post Raph, if you make use of that study area.

Raphael

dyl10 wrote: »

You should probably ammend your post Raph, if you make use of that study area.

What post?

>.>
<.<

Fad

dyl10 wrote: »

I don't know or otherwise care what involvement the SU has with the SU shop, but I've given the SU €158(?) for 4 years and I'd be happy for them to have it, if they provided these facilities. I don't give a toss about the thousands of euro you waste on class reps weekend every year, if you spent my €158(?) on a bunch of kettles and scattered them around campus, I'd be delighted.

I agree with you for the most part.

But on a side note, the SU gets 25 euro from each person (According to le Welfairy), and I think 5 of that goes to USI (Which I dont agree with, but anyway!). When scaled up, that's still fúck loads of money, but no where near the amounts you're suggesting. Whatever the building fee that we're paying is, is funding construction of the new student centre, it's not going into SU funds.

dyl10

Fad wrote: »

but no where near the amounts you're suggesting. Whatever the building fee that we're paying is, is funding construction of the new student centre, it's not going into SU funds.

Well as far as I know, the SU decides where that €158 goes each year, be it the new building, the USI or whatever (All of which I might add, does not benefit me).
If they don't decide where a portion of that cash goes, I'd like to know who does.

dyl10

Raphael wrote: »

What post?

>.>
<.<

In the words of the great man himself:

Fad

dyl10 wrote: »

Well as far as I know, the SU decides where that €158 goes each year, be it the new building, the USI or whatever (All of which I might add, does not benefit me).
If they don't decide where a portion of that cash goes, I'd like to know who does.

I have little or no involvement in the union other than being friends with two of the officers, but I sincerely sincerely doubt the union controls that money. I'll find out for you though

dyl10

Fad wrote: »

I have little or no involvement in the union other than being friends with two of the officers, but I sincerely sincerely doubt the union controls that money. I'll find out for you though

Sincere thanks

delta_bravo

Dyl free kettle in the first room on the right on the geography corridor. I presume you got a fob?

dyl10

Will be getting one over the next week hopefully, DB.
I heard you lads had hassle last year about your study room and food facilities? (possibly could have been the year before).

I asked for the topic to be brought at the next staff meeting.

Riamfada

There is a canteen, kettle, microwave and sink on the top floor of the library building.

Fad

Scott says the SU has no control over that money whatsoever and mentioned something about a referendum being passed that that money would only be used for building.

dyl10

Fad wrote: »

Scott says the SU has no control over that money whatsoever and mentioned something about a referendum being passed that that money would only be used for building.

Interesting indeed. I always assumed they had near, full control over that money.
Do you happen to know who/what pays for class reps weekend/sabat wages/ents funding etc.?

Fad

dyl10 wrote: »

Interesting indeed. I always assumed they had near, full control over that money.
Do you happen to know who/what pays for class reps weekend/sabat wages/ents funding etc.?

I never really assumed as much, when it says "Student Centre Levy" I assumed it's money going toward the construction of the Student Centre.

I dont know for sure (As I have said, aside from having a few friends in the union, I have little or no involvement), but I assume it comes out of the 25 quid a head taken from our fees + advertising in publications revenue + whatever other revenue there is.

(Tbh, I would prefer no one other than the class reps paid for their glorified piss up and I would prefer Ents to be seperate from the SU.... I do think some sabbats deserve the wages they get, but I wish there was some form of performance related pay connected to it, to stop things like last years education officer (If you could call him one) happening again)

omnisynergy

Pdf file I found with detailed information about Student Union funding from last year. http://www.ucdsu.ie/download/file/3085/

parker kent

Fad wrote: »

Scott says the SU has no control over that money whatsoever and mentioned something about a referendum being passed that that money would only be used for building.

As far as I remember the student's union organised that referendum some time ago, maybe 2005. I remember being extremely miffed about having to pay for a student centre that would not be built whilst I was still a student.

What will they do with the money when the student centre opens? Or has it been ring-fenced to pay for the student centre for a long time?

parker kent

omnisynergy wrote: »

Pdf file I found with detailed information about Student Union funding from last year. http://www.ucdsu.ie/download/file/3085/

40,000 spent on elections! What the hell?! That is ridiculous.

Edit: Oh and 15,000 on Class Rep trips, 5,000 on pens and highlighters are among some of my other favourite wastes of money.

kev9100

Fad wrote: »

But I wish there was some form of performance related pay connected to it, to stop things like last years education officer (If you could call him one) happening again)

What happened with him?

stop

Grimes wrote: »

There is a canteen, kettle, microwave and sink on the top floor of the library building.

Lose lips - they put a code lock on the door over the last year

Fad

parker kent wrote: »

As far as I remember the student's union organised that referendum some time ago, maybe 2005. I remember being extremely miffed about having to pay for a student centre that would not be built whilst I was still a student.

What will they do with the money when the student centre opens? Or has it been ring-fenced to pay for the student centre for a long time?

I assume it will stop being charged once the centre has been paid for. Or else it will keep being pumped into it to keep it running.

kev9100 wrote: »

What happened with him?

Many things: Obsever Article on him.

Some things are better left unsaid too tbh.

parker kent

Fad wrote: »

I assume it will stop being charged once the centre has been paid for. Or else it will keep being pumped into it to keep it running.

The levy was charged before the new centre was even planned so it will definitely stay. When I was in first year, it was said to go towards the running of the original student centre. When I first paid it, it was something like 70-odd euro. So it will be interesting to see if the fee is decreased from next year onwards.

UCDSU

Hi all,

Thanks for commenting and I hope the following info will help clarify some issues..

1. We will look into reducing the price of a cup of hot water immediately and keep you informed. S.U. Officers have no direct input into the daily price fluctuations in the shops as they are a separate company with individual managers. However, the SU shops are there to offer a service to students and we are grateful for feedback on all issues.

2. The student centre levy goes directly to the building of the student centre. Once the construction of the student centre is complete, the charge will cease. While some disagree with the charge, it was democratically passed by referendum. Not only the SU but almost all college societies and sports clubs were involved in introducing the referendum. Any charge you pay during your time in college can be written off when you are an alumnus if you are interested in being a member of the gym/leisure facilities. If you are still a student when it is completed next summer, the leisure facilities will be free of charge during your time here.

3. The S.U. receives 12 euro per student per year, of which 5 euro goes to USI. If you are unhappy with how the money is spent, you have every right to air your concerns with your SU officers. If you would like to bring up anything in particular, don't hesitate to e-mail campaigns@ucdsu.ie or call down to our offices.

Hopefully this cleared things up a bit.

If you have any further issues you wish to raise directly, please PM or email us on media@ucdsu.ie

Thanks

convert

UCDSU wrote: »

Any charge you pay during your time in college can be written off when you are an alumnus if you are interested in being a member of the gym/leisure facilities.

Can you expand further on that point?

From reading the alumni information page on the UCD website, each alumnus has to join the UCD Alumni Association, which costs 30 euro, in addition to paying a further 50 euro for Sports Alumni Membership (only available on production of a current UCD Alumni Association Membership Card), so an alumnus has to fork out 80 euro before they can even use the facilities, and then they have to pay every time they use they facilities if they don't pay a further 220 eur per year for gym membership.

So how exactly can the charges that students pay written off when they become an alumus?

Info. on UCD Alumni Association and Alumni Association Sports Membership was taken from here and here.

dyl10

UCDSU wrote: »

Hi all,

Thanks for commenting and I hope the following info will help clarify some issues..

1. We will look into reducing the price of a cup of hot water immediately and keep you informed. S.U. Officers have no direct input into the daily price fluctuations in the shops as they are a separate company with individual managers. However, the SU shops are there to offer a service to students and we are grateful for feedback on all issues.

2. The student centre levy goes directly to the building of the student centre. Once the construction of the student centre is complete, the charge will cease. While some disagree with the charge, it was democratically passed by referendum. Not only the SU but almost all college societies and sports clubs were involved in introducing the referendum. Any charge you pay during your time in college can be written off when you are an alumnus if you are interested in being a member of the gym/leisure facilities. If you are still a student when it is completed next summer, the leisure facilities will be free of charge during your time here.

3. The S.U. receives 12 euro per student per year, of which 5 euro goes to USI. If you are unhappy with how the money is spent, you have every right to air your concerns with your SU officers. If you would like to bring up anything in particular, don't hesitate to e-mail campaigns@ucdsu.ie or call down to our offices.

Hopefully this cleared things up a bit.

If you have any further issues you wish to raise directly, please PM or email us on media@ucdsu.ie

Thanks

Have you got an update?

dyl10

Bump

Fad

dyl10 wrote: »

Bump

The account has three posts...... I doubt you'll get a response too quickly.....

dyl10

Fad wrote: »

The account has three posts...... I doubt you'll get a response too quickly.....

I emailed them to direct them here.

Note: this is actually just another bump

The Student Blog

5 Euro to the USI ? What a waste...

marglin

15000 on class rep weekends?
that is absolutely mental, if they were just interested in being class reps for the sake of it they would happily come into ucd on a saturday, find some empty lecture halls and get on with their training...

which as far as i can tell involves showing them how to relay pointless information clogging up our inboxes with duplicated material from the su's emails.

organising class parties? ring the ents officer get some tokens ring a club tell them there's a class party coming... training ffs? literally drinking other students money and the gall to pretend they're doing all this for students benefits...not taking awatyfrom the su's genuine achievements(actually cant think of any but im sure they have something) but this kind of waste is ridiculous